I'm not sure if I'm ready for this - AOR with heavy keyboards - but what the hell. The opening strains do not bode well as I get ready to be cut in two by saw-toothed waves and LFOs. But it's not as bad as I feared. Terra Nova make a pleasant enough sound. It's cheery even. Reminds me of 'Raised On Radio' era Journey. At least opener 'Come Alive' does. As for the next track 'Fighting Yourself' I'm not so sure. It has a European feel to it and also a hint of OTT flamboyance in the backing vocal department. Kind of like a mix of The Scorpions and The Darkness. Meanwhile track 3 starts really well, it's energetic and it's happy. Coincidentally it's called 'Holy Grail' and it might turn out to be just that with its "Naa-na, naa-na, na-na" chorus. Who needs words when you can make a happy song without them?

This album sounds great. There's great separation between the instruments. The keyboards and the guitars are loud and distinct. All the instruments sound sparkling and luscious. The mix on this album sounds perfect to me. The guitar solo in 'Here Comes The Night' sounds beautifully full-bodied - you can nearly hear the type of timber used to construct the guitar.

'Those Eyes' is the piano ballad and I patiently wait until the chorus before I can really make any comment about it as the song doesn't completely grab me at first. The chorus is a bit show tune but it works and has good changes and a great melody.

'Under Pressure' isn't a Queen cover and I for one am glad for that - hands off my precious Bowie and Mercury. Except for the fact that show-time is back. This time stronger than ever. The Darkness is back too. It's like musical theatre. Will Ferrell would have a field day ice skating to this number. Anyone know if he's making 'Blades Of Glory 2'?

'Do Or Die' has, appropriately for such a title, a conservative, heavy, rocky stripped back drum beat. It's not quite AC/DC though despite having a common ancestor.

Just what is it that makes some tunes sound so Europop? Well whatever it is 'My Own Way' has it in spades. I think it's just a shade too bouncy for it's own good. And, it's at this point that the mystery is revealed, Terra Nova are Dutch. That would explain the Europeanisms that I've been hearing throughout.

I certainly enjoyed side 1 more than side 2 which drifted a little too broadway for my tastes right down to 'The Final Curtain' which is the title of the final song on the album I kid you not. I wouldn't hesitate in ushering any AORophiles in Terra Nova's general direction. The album sounds great and is worth a listen. One final oration from one stage to another: "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears!"

 http://www.myspace.com/terranova2